Contentment
Early this morning the pastor opened up to 1 Timothy 6. A message spoken to my heart yesterday, but not readily applied.
Lord I thank You that You take the time to allow Your word to sink deeply into my heart. Yesterday I read Your scriptures and saw Your desire for me to have a heart of contentment with where I am in my life, but all the day long i experienced one bad insecurity after another. And it left me in a battle to find security in You, a battle otherwise lost, were it not for Your compassion and grace with me. I Thank You Lord that you are never far off, when I am lost You are always near to me, safety and all rest is found in You Jesus. Today I hear the message again, “Jason, be content,” its loud and clear Lord.
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
1 Timothy 6:6
As opposed to the previous verse where godliness is thought of as a means of gain, or profit. I have often thought to myself, “If I love You, Jesus, and try really hard not to sin, than my business will grow,” or, “If I search after You with all my heart, than You will bless me with a wife.” Though You may bless me for doing such things, is what I want truly Your blessing? Do I honestly want a wife and kids to honor You and bring glory to You by living responsibly with my family as an example to a fallen world? Or do I just want them for my own use and need for self-fulfillment? Do I want my business to grow in order to give you glory and worship you? Or do I want more money, perhaps even the praise of men for what “I've” accomplished. Your eyes penetrate deeply into my heart, and as I prayed this morning Lord I ask You again, tear my heart wide open, reveal to me the truths about myself, I neither desire to lie to You, be it even possible as You know all things, neither (though the more likely of the two) do I desire to deceive myself and therefore live in constant hypocrisy.
“And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
1 Timothy 6:8
Food, shelter, clothing, it is all enough. In You I have redemption through Your blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of Your grace (Eph 1:7). That he who believes in You has everlasting life (John 6:47). That You my heavenly Father know that I need all these (food and clothing)... Therefore You comfort me and command me not to worry about tomorrow (Matt 6:32;34a). Your grace is pored out on me, Your love abounds in me, Your are my redeemed relationship to the Father, yet my flesh wants more. O what a selfish man I am. In my greed I do not see You as the sufficiency of my soul; Lord I repent of such wickedness. When I am in want, I covet. When I am lonely I want a relationship. When I am insulted I retaliate. Why? All for lack of contentment. You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3). And these three things I have: food, shelter and clothing. Lord who will save me from my wickedness and discontent for all you have blessed with me, as ALL my blessing are from You. Change this heart of stone i pray, and give me a heart of flesh; one that honors You.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for ever good work.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
A greatful and giving heart i do desire.
Thank You Jesus, for all You have blessed me with.
